Texas had its opportunity and messed it up. That's what it looked like, at least.
Then Jonathan Holmes proved 1.9 seconds was just enough time for a second chance.
With the Erwin Center crowd still fretting about the Longhorns' botched first attempt at a game-winner Tuesday, Holmes drained a 3-pointer from the corner as time expired to lift UT to a 67-64 victory over No. 22 Kansas State.
Before the shot left Holmes' hand — just beyond the reach of K-State defender Thomas Gipson — overtime seemed inevitable. The Longhorns had tried to run a play for Holmes and Javan Felix, and Holmes had been open on the baseline. But Isaiah Taylor couldn't find him, and UT was forced to call a panicked timeout with 1.9 seconds left.
Many of the 6,317 fans in attendance groaned. But in his huddle, Longhorns coach Rick Barnes was adamant that having Holmes screen for Felix could work again.
“We just ran the same play,” Barnes said. “I told (Taylor), 'You better throw it to one of those two guys.'”
The second time, he did. When Holmes flashed open, Taylor fired the ball to him in the corner, and the 6-foot-8 junior from Antonian calmly lofted the game-winner.
Afterwards, Holmes didn't stray from his usual understated, low-key demeanor. Yes, the shot was similar to the game-tying 3-pointer he hit at the end of regulation last year against West Virginia, he said. Yes, he was open the play before, he said.
And when asked if the way the game's ending was more dramatic than it would have been if he'd just made a layup on the first play, he shrugged and smiled.
“Yeah, probably,” Holmes said.
For the Longhorns (15-4, 4-2 Big 12), the victory was their second in a row over a Top-25 opponent, coming three days after they beat then-No. 8 Iowa State. UT hadn't won back-to-back games against ranked teams since doing it against Missouri and Texas A&M in 2011.
Holmes' big shot ended what had been a rough shooting night for him. He finished 3 of 8 for eight points with 10 rebounds. Felix led UT with 23 points, while Cameron Ridley had 18 points and six rebounds.
Gipson led the Wildcats (14-5, 4-2) with 24 points, most of them coming on nimble post moves.
“He knows how to use his body well,” Ridley said of Gipson.
“From this game, I could probably learn a thing or two.”